Welcome to USDA Animal Care
2

The Vital Role of Attending Veterinarians to the 

Success of Facilities Regulated under the 

Animal Welfare Act

What All 

Attending Veterinarians 

NEED to Know
Goals Objectives

 Define the relationship of the 

attending veterinarian (AV) with 

USDA APHIS Animal Care

 Have an understanding of the 

AUTHORITY of the AV under the 

Animal Welfare Act

 Build knowledge on the various 

topics found on our new AV 

website

 Introduction to USDA Animal Care and the 

Animal Welfare Act 

 Define the role of the AV and what a 

regulated person or business must do to be 

compliant under the Animal Welfare Act

 Explain how to write a compliant Program of 

Veterinary Care for a regulated facility

 Discuss how being an AV might impact your 

professional practice

 Review the new requirements for dogs

 See the various ways to reach out to USDA 

Animal Care

3
What are the 

benefits to 

being an 

Attending 

Veterinarian?

• A trusted voice in the community

• Improving an industry

• New experiences

• Advancing public health

• Expanding animal welfare

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USDA APHIS Animal Care

• Animal Care is an APHIS program responsible for:

• Animal Welfare Act (AWA)

• Horse Protection Act

• Emergency programs

• Examples of licensed or registered facilities under 

the AWA

• https://efile.aphis.usda.gov/LRAssistant/s/

• We conduct inspections of facilities that are 

licensed or registered under the AWA

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Do I qualify to be an Attending Veterinarian?

• Graduate of an AVMA accredited veterinary school; OR

• Certificate issued by AVMA Education Commission for

Foreign Veterinary Graduates; OR

• Equivalent formal education as determined by the

APHIS administrator

• Training and/or experience in the care and management of 

the species being attended to as the veterinarian

• Be given authority by the regulated facility to provide 

veterinary care for the animals

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Do I have to be Licensed and Accredited?

• The AWA doesn't specifically require either in order to serve in the 

role of the attending veterinarian 

• The attending veterinarian may need to be licensed to give rabies 

vaccines and dispense medication or to be accredited to sign 

health certificates for the movement of animals 

• If an otherwise qualified veterinarian is serving as an attending 

veterinarian for a facility, other veterinarians can 

be delegated to perform these tasks under the 

attending veterinarian’s oversight 

7
What if I don’t 

have 

experience 

with all the 

animals at a 

facility?

Identify and consult with 

veterinarians who have 

expertise with these species

Identify and consult with 

specialists

Employ additional veterinarians 

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What are my client’s responsibilities for providing 

adequate veterinary care under the AWA?

• Hire an attending veterinarian under formal arrangements

• Provide the attending veterinarian authority 

• Establish and follow programs of adequate veterinary care

• Perform daily observation of all animals

• Provide appropriate facilities and equipment for adequate 

veterinary care

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What does it mean to have authority at a 

regulated facility?

• The attending veterinarian must have the appropriate authority to:

• Ensure adequate veterinary care

• Oversee the adequacy of other aspects of animal care and use

• The duties performed by the attending veterinarian to ensure 

compliance with the regulations are ultimately the responsibility of 

the licensee, and the licensee must provide the 

attending veterinarian with adequate authority to 

carry out his/her functions

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How to Fill Out the Program of 

Veterinary Care

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Animal Care provides forms for your convenience

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Form 7002

For all animals

Form 7002A

For dogs

Your own form or 

document is also 

acceptable
Practical Tip 

13

First!

Download form 

(7002 or 7002A) 

to your computer

Save the file THEN begin to fill 

out the form
Form 7002 can be filled out by the 

licensee or the veterinarian – but the 

attending veterinarian must oversee 

and approve the Program of 

Veterinary Care!

List additional vets or special 

instructions here

Frequency of visits is determined 

by the veterinarian

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Form 7002
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List frequency of vaccination: 

if not enough room, attach a page

List sampling and 

treatment for all parasites

If the licensee will perform 

euthanasia, list specific drugs, 

doses and methods

Suggested topics for the husbandry 

program can be added in here

Not enough room? Attach a page!

Form 7002 page 2
If the boxes on the form are too small for 

all the information requested, attaching

another document meets the requirement 

for documentation of the topics listed

Sometimes not all items apply to 

the licensee; these are suggested 

topics to discuss

There may be special information to 

note about certain species here; it’s 

okay to enter N/A if it doesn’t apply!

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Form 7002 page 3
If you’ve listed this information in 

an attachment already you do not 

have to repeat it here

Different species may have different 

instructions for emergency care or 

additional veterinarians involved in 

their treatment; this is a good place to 

note that

It’s a good idea to note if there are

special instructions for euthanasia in 

case of emergency on the PVC

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Form 7002 page 4
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Wildlife Adventures Vaccination Program

Wildlife Adventure

Licensee St, Town, State, Zip

Phone Number

Date: 1/1/2021 Animal Locations: Drive through and petting zoo

Species Annual vaccine Hoofcare Parasites

Antelope none quarterly MX injectable dewormer annually

Camelid CD&T, WNV, EWT quarterly MX injectable dewormer annually

Cervidae CD&T, Virus 6 quarterly MX injectable dewormer annually

Cattle Virus 7, Bac 7, SBAC quarterly MX injectable dewormer annually

Equine WNV, EWT, EHV4/1, RV 8 wks MX gel oral dewormer annually

Sheep/goat CDT, RV quarterly MX dewormer oral quarterly

Note: some fallow and elk done once a year, some antelope and sheep only twice a year due to stress

Blood and stool collected depending on individual animal condition

African porcupine none

NA Porcupine none

Patagonian Cavy none

Potbelly Pig BAC 5, RV Hooves trimmed at annual physical exam

Coatimundi RV

Ringtail Lemur none RV if exposure is possible

Sugar Glider none

Rabbits none May change if RHV in state

Hedgehog none

Serval FVRCP, DHLPP, RV, Fel L

Hyena FVRCP, DHLPP, RV

Black Bear WNV, RV, DHLPP Training for voluntary injections

Fox DHLPP, RV

Wolfdog DHLPP, RV Monthly HW prevention, topical flea prevention

NOTE: list may be updated if veterinary recommendations change

Lists by species

Includes hoofcare

States frequency

Has deworming 

schedule

Sample Attachment: 

Program of Veterinary Care
A Written Program of 

Veterinary Care is 

REQUIRED for all dogs.

Form 7002A provides 

additional space for 

canine specific 

program details.

This form is provided for 

your convenience.

Page 2 Page 3

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20

An Exercise Plan is REQUIRED for all dogs

A facility’s exercise plan for dogs must be 

documented and approved by the attending 

veterinarian. Signing the exercise plan is a

convenient way to document

approval.

Some vets only include items in the checked 

box; others will add more instructions

Form 7013 is provided for convenience; 

you may use your own format, if preferred
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An Environment Enhancement Plan is 

REQUIRED for all nonhuman primates

Form 7050 is provided for convenience; 

you may use your own format

Each section has the regulatory 

requirement at the top

Prompts are provided based on 

common methods used to meet the 

requirement

ALL boxes do not need to be 

filled to meet the 

requirement

Page 4
Can licensees help provide basic veterinary care?

• Many attending veterinarians will teach licensees how to administer 

medications and vaccinations, and some have instructed licensees on 

methods to humanely euthanize animals

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Euthanasia (def.): means the humane destruction of an animal accomplished by 

a method that produces rapid unconsciousness and subsequent death without 

evidence of pain or distress, or a method that utilizes anesthesia produced by an 

agent that causes painless loss of consciousness and subsequent death.
Standardized treatment protocols

All treatments for veterinary problems must be approved by the attending 

veterinarian. Standard protocols may be used to instruct and authorize 

licensees to treat common conditions in advance. 

 Examples: minor wounds with topical medications, ear infections 

with specific drugs, deworming protocols

 Some veterinarians will add an entire ‘vet book’ of approved 

treatments and standing orders for the licensee to use

 Including pictures of common conditions with the written

instructions can help licensees correctly recognize problems

 It is helpful to include instructions for when to call the

attending veterinarian before starting treatment

 It is essential to ensure the licensee understands when to ask for help,

and what to do if treatment doesn’t work

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Canine Care Topics

Dental Care

• Canine Periodontal Disease

• Monitoring for Periodontal Disease in Dogs

• Preventive Care for Periodontal Disease in Dogs

Skin & Coat Care

• Coat Care: Preventing Matted Hair

• Identifying Healthy and Unhealthy Skin in Dogs

• Common Skin Disorders in Dogs

Parasite Prevention 

• Heartworm Disease in Dogs

• Intestinal Parasites in Dogs

• Flea Control for Dogs

Behavioral Development

• Maternal Stress and Puppy Development

• Early Rearing Environment

• Socialization

Animal Care Aids

care topics are also 

available for other species

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Required elements for the program of veterinary care

Availability of appropriate personnel, facilities, and equipment

Methods to prevent and control disease, including emergency care

Daily observation of all animals to assess health and well being

Guidance to personnel involved in the care and use of animals

Adequate pre-procedural and post-procedural care

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What is the Attending Veterinarian’s role in 

the inspection process?

• Are attending veterinarians required to be present for USDA inspections?

No; however, it provides opportunity for in-depth discussions between the 

USDA inspector, the attending veterinarian, and the licensee or registrant

• One of the most important components of our inspections is ensuring 

facilities are carrying out attending veterinarians’ directions and providing 

them with sufficient authority to maintain adequate care and welfare of the 

animals.

Unless directions are already written down, inspectors may need to speak with 

the attending veterinarian

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Liability: Will citations hurt my license?

• The Animal Welfare Act grants the USDA authority over regulated 

facilities. Animal Care does not have the authority to pursue 

action against attending veterinarians

• While facilities may be subject to penalties or 

other sanctions for failing to comply with the 

Animal Welfare Act or Regulations, the 

attending veterinarian will not 

27
Could my

medical 

records 

become public 

information?

• Any records that the USDA has in its possession 

may become publicly available through the 

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

• Inspectors will review a facility’s written program 

of veterinary care and any associated medical 

records during an inspection, but generally the 

records remain in the possession of the facility 

and/or veterinarian

• One exception is if a potential compliance issue is 

identified. In this case, supporting documentation 

may be copied to document the issue.

Possibly, but not usually

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What are the new rules for dogs? 

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A written Program of Veterinary Care is required for all dogs and must include:

Scheduled visits by the attending 

veterinarian not less than once every 

12 months 

Complete ‘head to tail’ physical exams 

on all dogs not less than once every 

12 months 

Sampling and treatment for parasites,

including fleas, worms, coccidia, 

giardia, and heartworm 

Vaccination schedules for contagious 

and deadly diseases including rabies, 

parvovirus, and distemper 

Preventive care program to ensure 

healthy and unmatted coats, properly 

trimmed nails, and clean and healthy 

eyes, ears, skin, and teeth for their dogs 

Medical records are also required

need to include identification, records of routine husbandry (such as vaccinations and preventive 

medical procedures, testing, or treatments), and a description of any clinical veterinary issues 
New Rule 

Common 

Q&As

Does the attending veterinarian have to be the one 

to administer the vaccines? 

Is rabies vaccination required for indoor kennels? 

What if a dog has had reactions in the past to 

vaccines?

Is heartworm testing/sampling/prevention required 

for indoor kennels? 

If a dog had a physical exam done by a veterinarian 

other than the attending veterinarian does that 

count as a 12-month exam?

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New Rule 

Common Q&As

Does the attending veterinarian have to be the one to administer the vaccines? 

• No, if the attending veterinarian is comfortable with the facility staff administering vaccinations. 

Some states require that a licensed veterinarian be the one to administer the vaccine.

Is rabies vaccination required for indoor kennels? 

• Yes. A rabies vaccination schedule is required regardless of housing.

What if a dog has had reactions in the past to vaccines?

• An attending veterinarian can exempt an individual dog due to medical reasons.

Is heartworm testing/sampling/prevention required for indoor kennels? 

• Dogs are required to be sampled and treated in accordance with a schedule approved by the attending 

veterinarian for parasites including heartworm. Prevention is not required but recommended.

If a dog had a physical exam done by a veterinarian other than the attending veterinarian does that 

count as a 12-month exam?

• Yes, the attending veterinarian can delegate his/her responsibilities to another veterinarian to conduct 

the physical exams as long as all relevant information is provided to the attending veterinarian.

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How Can I Contact USDA APHIS Animal Care? 

USDA INSPECTOR 

ASSIGNED TO THE 

FACILITY

SUPERVISORY ANIMAL 

CARE SPECIALIST FOR 

YOUR STATE

(SEE RESOURCES)

CUSTOMER SUPPORT 

EMAIL AT 

ANIMALCARE@USDA.GOV 

OR CALL

(970) 494-7478.

FILING A COMPLAINT 

ON AC WEBSITE

(SEE RESOURCES)

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Summary

• Introduction to USDA APHIS Animal Care and the Animal Welfare Act

• Defined the role of the attending veterinarian and what a regulated 

person or business must do to be compliant in providing adequate 

veterinary care under the Animal Welfare Act

• Explained how to write a compliant Program of Veterinary Care for a 

regulated facility

• Discussed how being an attending veterinarian might impact your 

professional practice

• New requirements for dogs and the common Q&As

• Ways to reach out to Animal Care

33
Additional Resources: 

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Animal Care Website: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare

Licensing and Registration Assistant Site: https://efile.aphis.usda.gov/LRAssistant/s/

Forms(at the bottom of the page): 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/sa_publications/ct_publications_and_guidance_

documents

Animal Care Aids: 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/caw/at_caw_animal_care_aids

Supervisor Contact Information: 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/sa_attending_veterinarians/av-sacs/supervisoryac-specialists-areas

File a Complaint: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/complaint-form
Thank You . . .

For more information visit:

www.aphis.usda.gov/animalwelfare/av

. . . & Questions